Lampedusa (Dawan Africa) – At least 27 people, including a one-year-old girl and three teenagers, have died and dozens remain missing after two migrant boats capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Italian island of Lampedusa, Italian authorities confirmed on Thursday.
According to survivors cited by Italian news agency ANSA, the vessels — carrying between 90 and 100 people in total — overturned roughly 14 miles from the island, within Italy’s search and rescue zone. The boats had departed from Tripoli, Libya, the previous night, with passengers from Pakistan, Somalia, and Sudan on board.
The Italian Coast Guard reported rescuing 60 survivors, who were taken to the Imbriacola reception centre in Lampedusa. Most were said to be in stable condition, though four were hospitalised with minor fractures.
Survivors recounted that one vessel began taking on water before capsizing, prompting passengers to move to the second boat, which was already overcrowded. The second vessel then also overturned, throwing dozens into the sea.
The search and rescue mission, coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Palermo, involved five patrol boats from the Coast Guard, Finance Police, and EU border agency Frontex, as well as a helicopter, airplane, and a Frontex aircraft. Two of the recovered bodies were found trapped inside one of the sunken boats.
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi expressed condolences via social media and stressed the need to stop such dangerous crossings “starting in the countries of departure.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced “dismay and compassion,” condemning what she described as the “inhumane cynicism” of human traffickers, and reaffirmed her government’s pledge to halt irregular departures and tighten migration controls.
Source: Anadolu Agency (AA)
